Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary
Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary at a Glance
| IUCN Category | II (National Park) |
| State | Goa |
| District | Goa (North) |
| Area | 107 Square Km. |
| Year of Notification | 13 April 1978). |
| Recommended Period for Visit | Oct.-March. |
| Nearest Town | Ponda (29 km.) |
| Nearest Railway Station | Vasko-de-gama. |
| Nearest Airport | Dabolim (80 km.) |
| Accommodation | Rest House & Tourist Lodges. |
Geographical Location of Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary: the Sanctuary is in the Sanguem taluka and includes portions of the western ghats between 14o53’57”-15o47’59”N, and 73o40’54”-74o20’11” E long. (Goa)
Data and history of Establishment : 28 December 1967.
Land Tenure of Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary: The sanctuary area is in the process of being converted into a reserved forest apart from its status as a wildlife sanctuary in the wildlife protection Act 1972.
Altitude sea level to 780m.
Physical features consists of ranges of the western ghats and includes the dudhsagar waterfall. Many small rivulets flow through the sanctuary in the monsoon months but dry up in summer. Vegetation: Mixed & wet Deciduous. Tropical wet evergreen, tropical moist deciduous and tropical wet evergreen tropical moist deciduous, and tropical semi-evergreen. Fauna (Animals): Guar (Bos gaurus) sambar (Cervus unicolor) mouse deer (mouse deer) (Tragu; us meminna) barking deer (Muntiacus mintjak), pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) slender loris (Loris tardigradus), panther (panthera pardus), porcupine (Hystrix indica) small Indian civet (Viverricula indica) flying squirrel (petaurista petaurista) grey junglefowl (gallus gallus,).
The core area consisting of 107 sq. km. was declared as a national park vide notification dated 13th April 1978. Constraints national highway 4A runs along the border of the sanctuary. Collem railway station falls within the sanctuary area. Grazing by cattle is a source of disturbance.
Valuable References: Tourist information bureau near main bus stand panjim Goa Tel. 225620.
India Government Tourist office church square. Panjim Goa Tel.223412. secretary department of forest & wildlife Government of Goa, panjim.
The Bhagwan Mahavir national park was notified in the year 1978, with an area of 107 sq. km. while the sanctuary here came into existence in the year 1967. the park vegetation here is mixed & wet deciduous type. Leopard Chital Sloth Bear are a few prized possessions of this reserve, beside it also has rich birds population.
Best Time to Visit: October – March is the recommended period to visit this park. One can take facility of tourist cottages and rest houses here.
